Per-minute billing is an EV charging pricing method where drivers are charged based on the time connected (e.g., €/minute), rather than the amount of energy delivered in kWh. It is often used to encourage bay turnover and manage parking-like behavior at public and destination charging locations.
Why Per-minute Billing Matters in EV Charging
Per-minute billing is useful when the main constraint is parking space and charger availability. It helps operators and site owners:
– Encourage drivers to move vehicles promptly (reduced overstay)
– Improve charger utilization and reduce queueing
– Monetize high-demand locations where dwell time is valuable
– Simplify billing when energy resale rules or metering requirements make per-kWh billing harder (market-dependent)
How Per-minute Billing Works
A typical per-minute billing model includes:
– The session starts and a timer begins
– The CPMS applies a €/minute rate during charging (and sometimes after charging ends)
– Optional additional fees can apply: session fee, parking fee, or idle fees
– The receipt shows total minutes and total cost
Common Per-minute Tariff Variants
Operators often use per-minute pricing in these ways:
– Charging time only: billed while energy is actively delivered
– Connection time: billed from plug-in to unplug (includes idle time)
– Tiered time rates: price increases after a time threshold (e.g., after 120 minutes)
– Idle fee policy: per-minute fee only after charging completes
– Hybrid tariffs: per-kWh + per-minute to balance fairness and turnover
Where Per-minute Billing Is Commonly Used
– City-centre curbside charging where parking demand is high
– Retail and leisure destinations with limited EV bays
– Sites that prioritize turnover over lowest energy cost
– Locations where per-kWh billing is constrained without compliant metering
– Fast-charging hubs (often as idle fees rather than primary pricing)
Benefits
– Strong incentive to free up bays quickly
– Simple to understand and predictable for short sessions
– Helps manage scarce parking and improve throughput
– Can reduce misuse where vehicles remain connected unnecessarily
Limitations and Considerations
– Can feel unfair because charging speed varies by vehicle and battery state
– Penalizes vehicles with lower onboard charger capacity (especially on AC)
– Can increase disputes if “charging stopped” due to faults or throttling
– Requires clear rules: what counts as billable time and when it starts/stops
– Often needs strong messaging and overstay management to avoid negative user experience
Related Glossary Terms
Time-based Billing
Idle Fee Policy
Idle Fees
Overstay Management
Charging Session Revenue
Charger Utilization
Pay-per-use Charging
Per-kWh Billing
Parking-Linked Charging
CPMS